IP Library Granted Patent US 12,622,370
Granted Patent B2
US 12,622,370 · App. 18/816,111 · Granted May 12, 2026

Smart sprinkler system

Inventors: Payton Michael Loppnow (Augusta, GA); Brian David Wanta (North Augusta, SC); Cole Elliot O'Brien (North Augusta, SC)
Assignee: TEXTRON INC.
A01G25/167A01G25/02A01D34/008A01D2101/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,622,370
App. No.
18/816,111
Filed
Aug 27, 2024
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3644
USPC
47/48.5
Abstract

An irrigation system includes at least one sensor configured to acquire data regarding a water saturation level of an area of soil, a sprinkler configured to provide water to the area of soil, and a control system. The control system is configured to acquire the data from the at least one sensor and adjust a watering scheme of the sprinkler based on the data to provide a desired water saturation level to the area of soil.

Claims (42)

1 . An irrigation system comprising:

at least one sensor configured to acquire data regarding (a) a first water saturation level of a first portion of an area of soil and (b) a second water saturation level of a second portion of the area of soil;

a sprinkler system configured to provide water to the area of soil; and

a control system configured to:

acquire one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide one or more desired water saturation levels to the area of soil;

acquire the data from the at least one sensor; and

control the sprinkler system to differentially water the first portion and the second portion based on the data and the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide the one or more desired water saturation levels to the first portion and the second portion.

2 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler system includes a first sprinkler associated with the first portion and a second sprinkler associated with the second portion, and wherein differentially watering the first portion and the second portion includes causing (a) the first sprinkler to stop watering the first portion when the first water saturation level is detected to have reached the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds associated the first portion and (b) the second sprinkler to stop watering the second portion when the second water saturation level is detected to have reached the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds associated the first portion.

3 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to control the sprinkler system to start watering or continue watering the first portion or the second portion in response to the first water saturation level or the second water saturation level, respectively, being less than the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds.

4 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to control the sprinkler system to stop watering the first portion or the second portion in response to the first water saturation level or the second water saturation level, respectively, being greater than or equal to the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds.

5 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler system includes a respective sprinkler configured to differentially water both the first portion and the second portion.

6 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor and the control system communicate wirelessly.

7 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a tensiometer configured to be disposed within the soil of the area.

8 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a vehicle sensor configured to be positioned on a vehicle.

9 . The irrigation system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle sensor includes a camera configured to survey the area as the vehicle drives over or proximate the area.

10 . The irrigation system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle sensor is a speed sensor, wherein the data is speed data regarding a component of the vehicle, and wherein the control system is configured to determine the first water saturation level and the second water saturation level based on the speed of the component of the vehicle.

11 . The irrigation system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is a mower, and wherein the component includes mower blades.

12 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes at least one processing circuit positioned in a vehicle, and wherein the at least one processing circuit is configured to acquire the data from the at least one sensor when the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the at least one sensor.

13 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes at least one processing circuit positioned at a server.

14 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes at least one processing circuit that is part of the sprinkler system.

15 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler system includes a first sprinkler and a second sprinkler, wherein the first sprinkler is configured to transmit a command to the second sprinkler.

16 . An irrigation system comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

acquire one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide one or more desired water saturation levels to an area of soil;

acquire data regarding (a) a first water saturation level of a first portion of the area of soil from a first sensor and (b) a second water saturation level of a second portion of the area of soil from a second sensor; and

control one or more sprinklers to differentially water the first portion and the second portion based on the data and the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide the one or more desired water saturation levels to the first portion and the second portion.

17 . The irrigation system of claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to

generate a graphical user interface based on the data for display to a user on a display device.

18 . The irrigation system of claim 16 , wherein, to control the sprinklers to provide the one or more desired water saturation levels to the area of soil, the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

transmit a first command to a first sprinkler of the one or more sprinklers corresponding to the first portion of the area; and

transmit a second command to a second sprinkler of the one or more sprinklers corresponding to the second portion of the area.

19 . An irrigation system comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

acquire at least one predetermined water saturation threshold to provide a desired water saturation level to a plurality of areas;

acquire a plurality of first signals regarding first water saturation values corresponding to the plurality of areas;

generate at least one first command based on the first water saturation values relative to the at least one predetermined water saturation threshold;

transmit the at least one first command to at least one sprinkler of a plurality of sprinklers;

acquire a plurality of second signals regarding second water saturation values corresponding to the plurality of areas;

generate at least one second command based on the second water saturation values relative to the at least one predetermined water saturation threshold;

transmit the at least one second command to at least one sprinkler of the plurality of sprinklers; and

dynamically generate a graphical user interface based on the first water saturation values and the second water saturation values.

20 . The irrigation system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one first command causes a control system to turn on at least one sprinkler of the plurality of sprinklers and the at least one second command causes the control system to at least one of turn off or rotate at least one sprinkler of the plurality of sprinklers.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2026
From: TEXTRON INC.
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 075652/0326 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2024
From: LOPPNOW, PAYTON MICHAEL; WANTA, BRIAN DAVID; O'BRIEN, COLE ELLIOT
To: TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 068572/0852 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260060187A1 · Mar 5, 2026
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